AB547-ASA1,14,1616 b. Aerial photographs.
AB547-ASA1,14,1717 c. Surveys that use a scale of not more than 10 feet per inch.
AB547-ASA1,14,1818 d. Wetland delineations.
AB547-ASA1,14,2119 3. “Rare and high quality wetland” means a wetland that is directly adjacent
20and contiguous to a class I or class II trout stream or that consists of 75 percent or
21more of any of the following wetland types:
AB547-ASA1,14,2222 a. Alder thicket.
AB547-ASA1,14,2323 b. Calcareous fen.
AB547-ASA1,14,2424 c. Coniferous swamp.
AB547-ASA1,14,2525 d. Coniferous bog.
AB547-ASA1,15,1
1e. Floodplain forest.
AB547-ASA1,15,22 f. Hardwood swamp.
AB547-ASA1,15,33 g. Interdunal wetland.
AB547-ASA1,15,44 h. Open bog.
AB547-ASA1,15,55 i. Ridge and swail complex.
AB547-ASA1,15,66 j. Deep marsh.
AB547-ASA1,15,77 4. “Sewerage system” has the meaning given in s. 281.01 (14).
AB547-ASA1,15,88 5. “Urban area” means any of the following:
AB547-ASA1,15,99 a. An incorporated area.
AB547-ASA1,15,1010 b. An area within one mile of an incorporated area.
AB547-ASA1,15,1211 c. An area in a town that is served by a sewerage system or is in a town sanitary
12district.
AB547-ASA1,15,1513 (b) Subject to par. (e), the permitting requirement under sub. (3b) does not
14apply to any discharge into a nonfederal wetland that occurs in an urban area and
15to which all of the following apply:
AB547-ASA1,15,1616 1. The discharge does not affect more than one acre of wetland per parcel.
AB547-ASA1,15,1717 2. The discharge does not affect a rare and high quality wetland.
AB547-ASA1,15,2018 3. The development related to the discharge is carried out in compliance with
19any applicable storm water management zoning ordinance enacted under s. 59.693,
2060.627, 61.354, or 62.234 or storm water discharge permit issued under s. 283.33.
AB547-ASA1,15,2321 (c) Subject to par. (e), the permitting requirement under sub. (3b) does not apply
22to any discharge into a nonfederal wetland that occurs outside an urban area and to
23which all of the following apply:
AB547-ASA1,15,2424 1. The discharge does not affect more than 3 acres of wetland per parcel.
AB547-ASA1,15,2525 2. The discharge does not affect a rare and high quality wetland.
AB547-ASA1,16,2
13. The development related to the discharge is a structure, such as a building,
2driveway, or road, with an agricultural purpose.
AB547-ASA1,16,43 (d) Subject to par. (e), the permitting requirement under sub. (3b) does not
4apply to any discharge into an artificial wetland.
AB547-ASA1,16,85 (e) 1. A person who proposes a project that may affect a wetland or landscape
6feature under par. (b), (c), or (d) shall notify the department no fewer than 15 working
7days before initiating the project. The notice shall include one of the following to
8show that the wetland or landscape feature is eligible for the relevant exemption:
AB547-ASA1,16,109 a. A statement issued by a professional who has investigated the wetland and
10who is qualified to give such an opinion.
AB547-ASA1,16,1211 b. A wetland delineation prepared by a qualified professional showing the exact
12location and boundaries of the wetland.
AB547-ASA1,16,1713 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the department receives the notice and
14information required under subd. 1., the department shall presume that the wetland
15or landscape feature is eligible for the exemption unless the department, within 15
16working days after receiving notification of the proposed project under subd. 1.,
17notifies the person that one of the following conditions applies:
AB547-ASA1,16,1818 a. The eligibility requirements are not met.
AB547-ASA1,16,2019 b. The location and boundaries of the wetland identified in a wetland
20delineation included with the notification under subd. 1. are not accurate.
AB547-ASA1,16,2421 c. With respect to an exemption under par. (d) only, the department determines
22that the landscape feature is providing significant functions that either protect
23adjacent or downstream property or infrastructure from flooding or significantly
24improve the water quality of an adjacent or downstream water body.
AB547-ASA1,17,9
13. If the department receives the notice and information required under subd.
21. but is unable to determine based on that information whether the eligibility
3requirements are met, the department may, within 15 working days after the
4notification under subd. 1., notify the person one time to request additional
5information about the parcel of land. The person shall cooperate with the
6department's efforts to obtain information about the relevant parcel of land and may
7proceed with the project only upon notification that the department has determined
8the landscape feature to be eligible for the exemption based on the definitive
9evidence.
AB547-ASA1,17,1310 4. If, within 15 working days after the notification is delivered to the
11department, the department notifies the person that subd. 2. a., b., or c. applies, the
12person may not proceed with the project unless authorized by, or otherwise exempted
13from, a wetland general or individual permit under this section.
AB547-ASA1,23 14Section 23. 281.36 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin
15Act 115
, is amended to read:
AB547-ASA1,17,1816 281.36 (6) (a) (intro.) The department shall promulgate rules to interpret and
17implement the provisions under subs. (4), (4n), (4r), and (5). In promulgating these
18rules, the department shall do all of the following:
AB547-ASA1,24 19Section 24. 281.36 (9) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin
20Act 115
, is amended to read:
AB547-ASA1,18,221 281.36 (9) (a) (intro.) For purposes of determining whether to issue a wetland
22individual permit, whether authorization to proceed as authorized under a wetland
23general permit is appropriate, or whether an exemption under sub. (4), (4n), or (4r)
24is appropriate, and for purposes of enforcing this section, any employee or other

1representative of the department, upon presenting his or her credentials, may do any
2of the following:
AB547-ASA1,25 3Section 25 . 281.36 (12m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB547-ASA1,18,114 281.36 (12m) Local regulation of nonfederal or artificial wetlands. A local
5government may not enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution regulating a matter
6regulated under sub. (3n) (d) 1. or (3r) (a) (intro.) or (am), with respect to a discharge
7exempt from permitting requirements under sub. (4n) (c), or a matter regulated
8under sub. (4n). If a local government has in effect on the effective date of this
9subsection .... [LRB inserts date], an ordinance or resolution regulating nonfederal
10wetlands or artificial wetlands, the ordinance or resolution does not apply and may
11not be enforced.
AB547-ASA1,26 12Section 26 . 281.36 (13m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB547-ASA1,18,2113 281.36 (13m) Report to legislature. No later than January 31, 2003, and no
14later than January 31 of each subsequent odd-numbered year, the department shall
15submit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report that provides an analysis of the
16impact of the implementation of mitigation on wetland resources and on the issuance
17of permits or other approvals under ss. 59.692, 61.351, 61.353, 62.231, 62.233, 87.30,
18281.11 to 281.47 or 281.49 to 281.85 or ch. 30, 31, 283, 289, 291, 292, 293, 295, or 299.
19The department shall include in its report a discussion of proposals and projects
20under the wetland mitigation grant program under s. 281.37 and the property
21development grant program under s. 23.099.
AB547-ASA1,27 22Section 27 . 281.37 of the statutes is created to read:
AB547-ASA1,18,23 23281.37 Wetland mitigation grant program. (1) In this subsection:
AB547-ASA1,19,224 (a) “Department stewardship land” means an area of land that is acquired by
25the state in whole or in part with funding from the stewardship program and that

1is under the jurisdiction of the department and used for one of the purposes specified
2in s. 23.09 (2) (d).
AB547-ASA1,19,43 (b) “Mitigation program” means the wetland mitigation grant program
4established under sub. (2).
AB547-ASA1,19,75 (c) “Nonprofit organization" means an organization that is described in section
6501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is exempt from federal income tax
7under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
AB547-ASA1,19,98 (d) “Stewardship program" means the stewardship program under s. 23.0915
9or 23.0917.
AB547-ASA1,19,13 10(2) The department shall establish a wetland mitigation grant program under
11which it awards grants to nonprofit organizations to conduct projects to create,
12restore, or enhance wetlands under the in lieu fee subprogram in s. 281.36 (3r) (e)
13on department stewardship land as provided in this subsection.
AB547-ASA1,19,20 14(3) No later than 6 months after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB
15inserts date], the department shall identify department stewardship land that is
16appropriate to include in the mitigation program. The department shall identify no
17less than 25 percent of department stewardship land for this purpose. The land
18identified shall include land in every watershed located on department stewardship
19land, except that if land in one watershed is not appropriate to include in the
20program, it is sufficient to include land in an adjacent watershed.
AB547-ASA1,20,2 21(4) (a) No later than 3 months after completion of the land identification stage
22under sub. (3) or at the beginning of the following fiscal year, whichever is earlier,
23and no later than July 1 of each subsequent year, the department shall issue a
24request for proposals from nonprofit organizations for grants to conduct wetland

1mitigation projects on department stewardship land identified under sub. (3). The
2issuance of each new request for proposal begins a new grant cycle.
AB547-ASA1,20,43 (b) The department shall require applications for grants under this section to
4include all of the following:
AB547-ASA1,20,55 1. The scope of the proposed project.
AB547-ASA1,20,66 2. A project timeline.
AB547-ASA1,20,97 3. If possible, a specification of the functional values or uses listed in s. NR
8103.03 (1), Wis. Adm. Code, that the project area does not provide or only sparsely
9provides.
AB547-ASA1,20,1110 4. A specification of the functional values or uses listed in s. NR 103.03 (1), Wis.
11Adm. Code, that the proposed project would create, restore, or enhance.
AB547-ASA1,20,1412 (c) The department shall accept grant applications on a rolling basis over the
13course of a fiscal year. The department shall select and announce grant recipients
14at the end of each quarter as funds are available.
AB547-ASA1,20,18 15(5) (a) If an application under sub. (4) is approved, the grantee and the
16department, in consultation, shall identify all department permits required for the
17grantee to conduct the project. The department shall waive all permit fees for the
18grantee in relation to department permits required to conduct the project.
AB547-ASA1,20,2319 (b) Notwithstanding timelines otherwise established for individual permits,
20within 60 days of receiving the grantee's application for an individual permit that is
21required to conduct the project, the department shall render a decision issuing,
22denying, or modifying the permit, and the department shall adjust all other
23deadlines relating to the review of the application accordingly.
AB547-ASA1,21,3
1(7) (a) The department shall pay out a grant under the mitigation program in
23 phases, withholding the final payment until the grantee certifies that the project
3is complete.
AB547-ASA1,21,104 (b) If the grantee fails to certify that the project is complete by the date
5indicated for completion in its application, the department shall use the remaining
6unpaid grant amount to either complete the project or contract with or issue a grant
7to another nonprofit organization to complete the project. An organization that fails
8to certify completion of a project by the date indicated in its application for
9completion is not eligible for a new grant under the mitigation program for 2 grant
10cycles.
AB547-ASA1,21,1411 (c) The department may agree to a modified deadline for the project if unusual
12or unforeseen circumstances cause a delay. If the department agrees to a modified
13deadline, the consequences under par. (b) apply only if the grantee fails to certify that
14a project is complete by the date indicated in that agreement.
AB547-ASA1,21,19 15(8) Before 6 months have elapsed after the 5th anniversary of the department's
16first issuance of a request for proposals under sub. (4), the department shall submit
17to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report analyzing the effectiveness of the first
185 years of the mitigation program and making recommendations for changes to the
19program.
AB547-ASA1,28 20Section 28 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB547-ASA1,22,221 (1) Federal review of mitigation projects. The department of natural
22resources may submit a request to the U.S. army corps of engineers that the U.S.
23army corps of engineers move up all deadlines relating to its review and approval of
24wetland mitigation project proposals under the in lieu fee subprogram under section

1281.36 (3r) of the statutes so that the time it takes for the U.S. army corps of
2engineers to approve such a proposal is shortened.
AB547-ASA1,22,73 (2) Appointment of members of wetland study council. The governor shall
4appoint the members of the wetland study council under section 15.347 (22) (a) 1. to
58. of the statutes and the secretary of natural resources shall appoint the member
6of the wetland study council under section 15.347 (22) (a) 9. of the statutes no later
7than 6 months after the effective date of this subsection.
AB547-ASA1,22,118 (3) Initial terms for wetland study council members. Notwithstanding
9section 15.347 (22) of the statutes, of the members of the wetland study council who
10are appointed as initial members, 3 members shall serve for a 2-year term and 3
11members shall serve for a 4-year term.
AB547-ASA1,29 12Section 29 . Initial applicability.
AB547-ASA1,22,1313 (1) Nonfederal wetland delineations.
AB547-ASA1,22,1914 (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the renumbering and amendment of
15section 23.321 (1) and (5) of the statutes and the creation of section 23.321 (1) (am)
16and (5) (b) of the statutes first apply to a wetland identification provided by the
17department of natural resources under section 23.321 (2) (b) of the statutes and a
18wetland confirmation provided by the department of natural resources under section
1923.321 (2) (c) of the statutes for a nonfederal wetland on January 1, 2003.
AB547-ASA1,23,320 (b) The renumbering and amendment of section 23.321 (1) and (5) of the
21statutes and the creation of section 23.321 (1) (am) and (5) (b) of the statutes first
22apply to a wetland identification and wetland confirmation under paragraph (a) even
23if the wetland identification or wetland confirmation expired prior to the effective
24date of this paragraph unless a more recent wetland identification or wetland
25confirmation was provided by the department of natural resources showing a

1wetland on the parcel and a discharge was carried out in the wetland in compliance
2with a permit under section 281.36 of the statutes prior to the effective date of this
3paragraph.
AB547-ASA1,30 4Section 30 . Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
5except as follows:
AB547-ASA1,23,96 (1) Permit exemptions for certain nonfederal wetlands and artificial
7wetlands.
The treatment of sections 281.36 (3b) (b), (3m) (a), (3n) (d) 1., (3r) (a)
8(intro.) and (am), (4) (title), (4n), (6) (a) (intro.), and (9) (a) (intro.) of the statutes takes
9effect on July 1, 2018.
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